The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-09-24
MEMORIAL DAY.

hAhAbNLf MA btpts TO- LoobOluol
was the third and last day of the Consti
tutional centennial celebration. 1t was
Memorial Day" more charming day
would be hard to imagine. 1t was typi.
cal September day, clear, cool and bril-
liant.
On the stand in Independence square
there were represented every branch and
condition of life which goes to make up
nation. Side by side were the chief magis.
trate, the highest ecclesiastical represen-
tatives, the justices of the highest law
tribunal, the ministers extraordinary of
foreign powers, the Nations Lawmakers
and representatives of the army and navy
and all other departments Of civil, mill
! tary and religious life. The stand in In
! dependence square in the rear of the old
historic hall had seating capacity of
about ten thousand, and was filed early
| by holders of tickets, which were
necessary to gain admission, At the
front of the stand facing
south an inclosure was rallied
Off for the President, his party, the speak
ers and others. At the front and sus.
| pended so as to be in full view, hung a
Photographic copy of the original Consti
tuition. At the east side of the stand stood
the quaint old high-back chair occupied
! by George Washington as the presiding
officer of the Congress which adopted that
honored and venerated document. Sus
pended from the back of the chair was
another copy OF the Nations charter.
AT half past ten o'clock the gigantic
! chorus OF two thousand children, with
two hundred men as leading voicesSsang
a patriotic air which brought them rounds
of applause.
One of the first of the distinguished
guests to arrive was the venerable Han
nibal Hamlin. Just as the bell at the top
Of Independence Hall marked the hour
of eleven the children's chorus sent up
three rousing cheers as their tribute Of
love and veneration for the historic build
Ing.
At quarter past eleven O'Clock the APP.
pearance of the President and his wife AT
the head of a double column Of distin-
guished visitors created a perfect upro0r
of applause. As they came down the cen
ter aisle toward their places in front, the
President leaned on the arm of eX-Minis-
ter Kasson, and directly behind them
came Mrs. Cleveland, leaning on the arm
of Thomas NJ. Thompson, chairman of the
committee on reception OF the distin-
guished guests, Next came Secretary
Bayard, Daniel Lamont and wife and
Secretary FairChild. After the President
and Mrs. Cleveland had reached the
stand a general Misunderstanding with those
whom they recognized, or were recognized
by, took place, after which, in response to
the tumuituous applause of the multitude,
: they walked side by side to the front rail
ing of the structure and bowed their ac-
acknowledgement of the compliments. 1t
seemed as though the cheering would new
er die out. The earth almost trembled as
thousands of throats we're yelled hoarse.
AT II AS a. NJ, after all had reached the
stand Bishop Potter arose and, being fol-
lowed by all those who occupied the re-
served space with uncovered heads, made
the opening prayer, reading from manu-
script. In the great noise and din it was
an impossibility for even those near him
TO distinguish single word.
Just after the Bishop lad concluded his
prayer Lieutenant General Philip H..
Sheridan with his aides, followed closely
by Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop Ryan
and a number of Catholic clergy, marched
down the aisle, cheered to the echo. When
: they had been seated, Hon. John A. Kas-
son, as president of the Constitutional
Centennial Commission, assumed his
: place, and, after a hymn had been rem
dered by the chorus, arose to make the in
troductory address of the day. After
hearty round of applause he spoke at
, length, his remarks being punctuated
with many demonstrations of apprecia-
ton.
Cardinal Gibbons, wearing the cardinal
colors of his exalted office, sat at the side
. Of the speakers and was one of the most
attentive listeners of the entire assem-.
blage.
: At the conclusion Of Mr. Kasson's ad.
dress, the chorus sang "Appeal to Truth"
(by Schiller Mendessohn) with beautiful
effect.
> At the conclusion of the song ex-
. Minister Kasson escorted the President tG
: The speakers rostrum, and of 11:55 he
= commenced a ten-minutes' address, which
= was received with thunderous applause.
His enunciatOn was clear and perfect,
:. and his voice rang out audibly to the
thousands Of ears.
y Before the echo of his words had died
:. away there was q cheering which was
deafening. While the applause was still
going on the chorus broke into patriot
!. ic air, and the din was terrific. AS far as
r the eye could reach there was one solid,
/. seething, surging mass Of humanity, and
IS when their Threats opened in unison they
n filed the air and made an inspiring scene.
r. When quiet once more reigned, Just
Is tice Samuel f. Miller, of the United
It States Supreme Court appeared, and step.
IS ping quickly to the front of the stand and
i. facing the assembled dignitaries, began
the delivery of his memorial Grafton.
lie At $40 President KasSon, one of the
2, commission, gently took the arm of Car
ii dinal Gibbons, who, with the glittering
70 sun pouring down upon his cardinals
,e vestments and the rcd hat so lately placed
1t upon his head by the venerable Leo Kill.
70 looked his best and was the recipient Of
p much attention. After walking TO the
" front of the stand and paying his respects
1t to the thousands of people who surged in
and around the square, with O bow hC